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£1bn housing project gives Havering youngsters career kick-start

Eleven young adults in Havering have had a career kick-start as the first training opportunities were launched by the biggest regeneration project in the borough.

Havering Council and national developer Wates Residential are working in partnership to build around 3,000 homes for local people across a number of sites in the borough over the next 12 years.

The new appointments mark a significant milestone for the project, which is helping to shape the next chapter in Havering’s history through the delivery of new high quality homes and increased investment in education, training and skills.

They include two apprentices, who will each benefit from a two-year placement with Clarkebond, a multi-disciplinary engineering and management consultancy responsible for the civil, structural and geotechnical engineering aspects on projects including the joint venture.

During the placements, the apprentices will gain invaluable experience in the construction and engineering sectors.

They will learn how to use 2D and 3D computer-aided design to support the production of plans and documentation, and will also have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the construction process through visits to the early demolition works and the construction site in Havering.

As part of their training, the apprentices will also attend Havering College to study towards several nationally-recognised qualifications, including a BTEC Level 3 in Mechanical Engineering and an NVQ Level 3 Extended Diploma in Engineering Technical Support.

Nine local students from Havering College have also been offered work experience placements at companies working on the joint venture, including global engineering firm Aecom and architecture firm JTP.

The week-long placements, which will all be at the end of October, will enrich the students’ classroom learning. They will also have the opportunity to experience the firms’ work first-hand and support them in a variety of tasks.

As the scheme develops, Havering Council and Wates Residential will continue to work together to unlock meaningful opportunities for local residents, while Havering College’s new construction base in Rainham will be used to help meet demand on the site.

The joint venture will see an overhaul of Havering’s existing Council accommodation, with the council’s current stock of 856 homes replaced with around 3,000 homes of mixed tenure. Delivering improved provision, the regeneration will increase council rented accommodation by 70 per cent and will include 400 low-cost home ownership properties.

By doubling the amount of affordable housing on the 12 estates, the project will deliver much-needed homes for borough residents that are truly affordable on local income levels.

Councillor Damian White, Leader of Havering Council, said:

“These placements are part of a much wider programme ensuring the 12 estates project goes far beyond bricks and mortar.

“Our commitment to social value will not only deliver great places and thriving communities, but life chances for our young people and significant opportunities for local businesses. We are determined that the benefits of regeneration are felt right across the borough and improve the lives of as many residents as possible.”